Steaks at home are sublime. With the right cut of steak, some salt, and a hot pan you can enjoy a flavorful steak with a thin crisp crust and a buttery, tender interior just as delicious as any steakhouse option.

I tend to think people who prefer a steakhouse steak find steak at home too fussy, but I happen to believe the opposite is true. You just have to keep it pretty simple, and that means doing far less than you’d expect. So if you’re looking for an easy way to great steak, here all the things you don’t need to do to make it absolutely mouthwatering.

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The most expensive cocktail I’ve ever had was at Duke’s Hotel in London. If I’m recalling correctly, it cost me £17. Now, a $17 cocktail is one thing — expensive, yes, but not unheard of, at least in New York — but a £17 cocktail is something else altogether. That single cocktail, a very stiff, very dry martini, set me back $27. And it was totally worth it.

Let’s take a look at the math. (Don’t worry it’s not complicated.)

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A whiskey sour is yours for the making year-round. It’s refreshing enough to keep up with a spritz during the warm summer months, and so appropriate during the colder seasons of the year. Even if you’re not a whiskey fan (which breaks my heart), you might still find yourself swooning over a well-crafted whiskey sour. It’s that good! The secret is using fresh ingredients.

It’s such an easy cocktail to make at home, and perfect for entertaining guests. There’s nothing better than hearing that ooh! from your guest when you hand them a coupe glass filled with whiskey sour goodness.

To get started, you’ll need some bourbon, lemon juice, simple syrup, and one small egg (optional, but more on this in a bit).

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Was the bone-in version of the steak you love to cook on sale this week? If you couldn’t resist the deal (bone-in steaks often cost a bit less) and you’re ready to cook it, here are the most important things you need to know about mastering this cut of meat.

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The goal of a food and drink pairing is to make both taste better when consumed together. It’s a partnership to bring out the best in everyone! So while red wine with steak is probably the most well-known duo, there are still a handful of beverages — both alcoholic and non-alcoholic — that will make that juicy steak you just cooked up an even more delicious experience to partake in.

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Everyone knows that staying home on Valentine’s Day is a much better option than eating out, right? A romantic meal at home has so many advantages over a noisy, overpriced, overcrowded restaurant. If you’re not convinced, then here are 25 recipes for your romantic consideration. And they don’t have to be complicated. One-pot shrimp scampi is delicious and simple, although if putting some time in at the stove is your jam, try steak with drunken mushrooms & roasted blue cheese potatoes.

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The school I went to in Italy was attached to a hotel. That may sound strange, but with professors coming to teach from all over the world, perhaps they thought it simply made good business sense. Of course, it was the students who took most advantage of the lobby bar. We’d pop in for a quick espresso before class or convene for a spritz post-exam.

While it was far from the most luxe hotel bar on the planet — a bit dusty and outdated — it makes me happy just thinking about it. Then again, pretty much any hotel bar makes me swoon.

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I had long considered a fried egg the kind of breakfast (or lunch or dinner, to be honest) a delicacy that could dress up anything from a plate of hash to a simple salad and not the sort of thing you throw together for a crowd. But last year, one of our editors taught me a trick for cooking a big batch of fried eggs at once, turning this once solo dining luxury into a crowd-pleasing performance that does not even require a frying pan.

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Are you feeling stumped about what to get for your S.O. this Valentine’s Day? Chocolate and flowers feels so predictable, but you’re still suffering from a serious gift-giving holiday hangover. So while you really want to think of something totally original that’s going to make your loved one feel all the feels, what you really want is for someone else to think of that something for you. Allow us to help.

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From Apartment Therapy → How to Grow 100 Pounds of Potatoes in 4 Square Feet

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